Maynard Evans, take hikes, and immigration: Letters

Maynard Evans was my great uncle. I deeply regret his good name now being unfairly besmirched. Let me tell you more about him.

He was born in 1891 on Parramore Street in what is now downtown Orlando. His father died when he was 15, but he stayed in school, attended his mother and siblings, eventually got a degree in pharmacy and owned a local drugstore.

Pushed by their mother, the Evans children were taught to share their time and talents with the community every week. When their stories ended, Turner Evans had served on the Orlando Utilities Commission, Donald Evans had served as an Orange County commissioner, and Maynard had served on the Orange County School Board.

They were not wealthy, they were not powerful, and they did not seek injustice for others. The big determinants in the life of Maynard, and his siblings, were their father's early death, the moral influence of their mother, World War I, the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt's presidency and World War II.

When he died in 1952, the Orlando Sentinel in a front-page story called him "greatest of all — every man's friend."

His family remembers him as someone who worked hard, set a good example, freely shared his time and his treasure — and as one of those individuals who made this a better community. We are proud that many years after his death, the citizens of Orange County honored his memory by naming a significant high school for him.

Mary Sanchez, in her Sunday column, attempted to compare deaths in America from firearms with the deaths occurring on our highways ("Put politics aside, treat gun safety as public-health issue").

How could any thinking person link the two? There is no basis for comparison; a college-level statistics course would teach her why. Sanchez wrongly plays on the emotions of many people who have lost loved ones on the highway by attempting to pit them against the legal right to own a weapon.

Vehicles are safer now than ever, and her idea that the government made them safer is ludicrous. Vehicle manufacturers around the world have spent their own time, assets and engineering skills to create safer cars.

In her improper comparison of guns and cars, Sanchez indirectly justifies the need for extensive gun control. If she believes that has a chance of working, she should look at Chicago, with its many stringent gun-control laws. Still, dozens of people are shot, knifed or clubbed to death every month in that city. Citizens are unable to protect themselves against these criminals because of the foolish gun laws.

Sanchez should read a book written by an American hero, Navy SEAL and sniper Chris Kyle, titled "American Gun: A history of the U.S. in Ten Firearms." Without Americans using weapons such as the ones mentioned in the book (from the American Revolution to present day), Sanchez would not possess the freedom and rights she now uses to publish such nonsense.

Jeffrey E. Schmidt Kissimmee

Lawmakers should not take a 5-week vacation

With all the issues and problems facing this nation — immigration, Veterans Affairs, the economy, numerous scandals, Russia, Gaza, and many others — one would think that Congress has a lot of work on its plate.

Add to that the need to work out a fiscal 2015 budget before the end of September, plus the upcoming election campaigning, and you have an almost impossible set of tasks to execute even if Congress works 24-7 between now and January.

So what do they do? Vacation for five weeks, at our expense. Is it any wonder that almost nine in 10 citizens disapprove? What's the solution? New faces next January. The same in 2016, if necessary. That's how to make Congress more responsive to voters. A viable centrist third party would be good as well.

Jay TyneOviedo

City's tax hikes, land buys don't add up

One day I read that the city of Orlando is proposing a rather substantial property-tax increase to pay for basic services such as police and firefighters, while spending more than a billion dollars on downtown venues.

On Tuesday, I read that the city is buying back a piece of land downtown from an investment fund for 245 percent of what the investment fund paid the city for the land nine years ago, and at a 7 percent premium over comparable land the city has recently purchased ("Orlando buys back land in Parramore for twice price").

Then it is revealed in the same article that this investment fund gets another 22 years at zero interest to repay "incentive money" of $878,000 it was given for a failed development of the land that never occurred.

The City Council voted unanimously for the deal, with Commissioner Tony Ortiz saying, "We are not doing anyone any special favors." I'm sure the city of Orlando taxpayers feel "special" about this deal and their elected representation.

I'm glad I pay my property taxes in Winter Springs.

Brett StiegelWinter Springs

Immigration solution

Regarding Eugene Robinson's column, "Obama must channel Reagan with the A-word: Amnesty," in Tuesday's Sentinel: I have several suggestions about the displaced children and other immigrants.

Turn the United Nations into temporary housing until homes can be found for the children. The UN serves no useful purpose, and has no basis to even exist on American soil. It is also home to countries that are openly hostile to America, and they can help foot the bill.

Turn the Vatican into a homeless shelter. Jesus didn't need a home that big or ornate.

Offer American statehood to any Mexican state that ratifies our Bill of Rights by a two-thirds majority.

Do you have an opinion you'd like to share? We welcome all kinds of views, in all types of formats. Here's how to contribute:Letter to the Editor: Keep it short and to the point -- no more than 250 words. Use our online submission form by clicking here Or mail to:Letter to the EditorOrlando Sentinel633...